Ring and disc assembly apparatus



y 18, 9 J. R. FLEISCH 2,441,876

RING AND DISC ASSEMBLY APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15, 1945 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 17 f'zveni or" I \JZagp/L B Fleglac 142. .flwwm M y 1948' ,1. R. FLEISCH,8

RING AND DISC ASSEMBLY APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15; 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2May 18, 1948. v J. R. FLEISCH 2,441,876

/ RING AND DISC ASSEMBLY APPARATUS 7 Filed Jan. 15, 1945 5- Sheets-Sheeta May 18, 1948. J. R. FLEISCH v 2,441,876.

. RING AND DISC ASSEMBLY APPARATUS Filed Jah. 15, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4I tiori,

Patented May 18, 1948 unima- TA-T ES TENT OFFICE 7 2,441,876; RING ANDnise VASSEMBLKAIYBABAZIIIS;

JosephR'Fleisch, Hills dale; In, Applieationlanuary 15, 1945, Serial No;smas'ze.

15 Claims. (01. 29121 1);

sirable that a given quantity; suchas say-a dozen of. the tw=piece capsbe placed together sin. a,

package forsales distribution; andi it is. important-that therebea lidfor; each band, andvi'ce: versa, in

twelve band's andtwelve; lids for disposal in the pack-a1 eigp 'iii'e';and also unreliable in that frequently.

al 'lea-nd fails are a A 7 er? and-which wi-1 l =keep step with the'producti'dn d'f the cap parts while eliminating the need" for} manualabor for this" purpose and insu'r ing: aeeqraey -ofcount.

4 These and -other "Figure Iq,-1s a perspective view shq mgm sep-.arate'l 're1atien-' the disc-shaped lidsand' the 1 ring-shaped; bandsupon which the' apparatus mayiopeijate for assemblingpairs of these '16;isa partial view-ofa; masonar with the closurefthereon;

"Figure 2j'is an elea'ational viewof the apparatlis 'of l igure 1;

-1= jiures's sectional View; partly'in eleva g; theapparatus e lea v s kt e c i ii gum a bihf th nla i ra mem the package;- to avoid Waste 1 andsannoyance. Heretofore it has; been customary. in the (plant of thecap'manufacturer to icount outt ge; butsuch manual operation is slow and tohave a lid therefor or viceversa; 'I-hpresent invention aimsto=provideja1high speed mechanical a pnaratus I for performing. theassmhI operation= immediately as the cap parts;

' "dliyiered irom the manufacturing macnm- 7 objects will-be apparentfrom the' 'fo11ov6ing deSc'ri'ptionQtaKen together with:- theaccomiianying drawirigs,- setting forth an illustrative em odiment ofthe invention, and

- on the staggered-line 3--3-of 'Figure 1 andbeing generalasideelevationalview of Figure-dis an enlarged viewlooking in the? p' ii w 59 be e l hct oh' ken on, h f Figure 3, parts being furthericut;

- 2'1, F ure 6. s K at e yale et qnhe: a Hears -takee n he iee 7 .9? w5; lie rs flwi i a qmew at s leer- 41 uumr e rin m am nd-heme ae tmn' 261 mewha e are c i- F ure 8; e; a Q$: 9 i9 aken 1 .1; h ine. 81-83 of Ifigurefl.

' Referring in detail to the illustrative cogstrug tion. -a sh owniinthe drawings, andturningiirst to Figui'fl 1a, the nunieral" IDindicates the disc shaped, lid} and. the ume ralll l gvthejring shapedxba ne a ee ie wsm r liar s mmed; preserving of home rc ooked f ruits,Qegetahl'es ar d the 'like..' These; lids. b ands are commonly} d n s Pwmfirisin a i cha d; lid; and a'zrir g sh ti band' in ialpairconstitiiting a; ,closur and 1 are used flay the housewife or othei-Ipackager; to close and seal a. receptacle the jar; i21 (Fi'g v 1(2) IEigure l' showsl the loaniil ands lidsin. upside-down position; whereasK ure; 1b.. shows 1 the} liandand1idin ri'ght side ub position on the.jarI, l2; theplid [0' serving-asgthe closure itself by, covering-theDuthof the jar usually oi glass and the. band I I}. which; screwedgthereto to mate with similarthreads on the exterior of thelmouthof-theijanserves to hold the lid in A position and seal it thereon; agasket I011 of rubleer-like compgundbeing,com: monly. carried I by ,fthe lid. about the v margin of, its, lower face. The -ldand1 issomewhatcupv shapedghavi'ng, a, horizontal inturned'fiange, 1' I laabout its upper-.margin which surrounds a circul 'ai'j opening}.= libtherein, 1 the fl nee" pressing theJidag-ainst'thejarmlouth V i Theiidsi and. bands, which are. commonly or; sheetnie'tal} are separatelymanufactured bygthe use of high speed machinery for thatjurposle and-arebrought together forlpacking for sIh mer t to the. purchaser-: usual lyin p ckages reach ont i ie s q a sis =n ch d z v t h P el' th eem-ireitidni specifically; illustrated provic lejs; rapid}; sure and;economical means fer assuring thatfthere she. a be and for eacaba q .aaa aadgrorieaen In carriying o ut the ir yentionl the-apparatus as".next described.may.adyantageous1y1be ,enifiloyebl, which contemplatesmeans 1 for positioning a and ul; plurality; ot fbands} in .i nvertedlposjitien andgthen causing asingle lid-t0d0egdpbsitiad1n theband, and'tiien' discharging,the assembids ,pairsgomids and bands-"for packaging,f

1 i stanqei w r-v u rtn a thegst rid a r indie stand l3 supports one endeach of two endless belt conveyors 26 and 21 made of the usual canvasbelting, the belt 26 for moving over the table top a procession of thebands before assembly-with the lids, and the other belt 21 for carryingtherefrom a procession of assembled bands and lidsl' being journaled forrotation in the brackets as at 30, one bracket and its roller beingmount-ed on the cross strut 13, for the, belt 26, and the other bracketand its roller being mounted on the cross strut 21, for the belt 21, andthus being at opposite ends of the table top 11 and so that the beltconveyors may have their upper runs traveling on the surface of thetable top 11 and their lower runs returned below the table topand belowthe cross struts l8 and 2 I. l

The upper run of the conveyor belt 26, which brings the bands to theapparatus, travels in the direction of the arrow 3| and the processionof bands travels as at 32 thereon in this direction. Similarly the upperrun of the conveyor belt 21 also moves along the table top 11 but spacedlaterally thereon from the conveyor belt 26 and also travels in the samedirection as indicated by the arrow'3 3, a procession of assembled pairsof bands and lids traveling thereon being indicated at 34. It will beunderstood'thatithe' other ends of the conveyor belts 26 and 21, whichare not here shown and which form no part of the present invention, maybe conventionally supported and arranged on any suitable mountings andthat these conveyor belts may be'driven at their ends not "here shown aby any suitable conventional driving'means for that'purpose Further inaccordance with the present invention, between the conveyor belts 26 and21, the table top l1 carries a filler plate 35'which is of the samethickness as the thickness of the belts 26 and 21 which therebyprovides'a surface in the sameplan-e with the plane of the upper surfaceof thebelts so as to permit the bands and lids to be slid, as presentlydescribed, from one to the other of these surfaces. Upon the fillerplate 35 is fixed, in this instance a plurality of, and as here shown,three turret blocks 36 which are secured as by screws 31 at each cornerof a block to the table top 11 through suitable perforations whichextend through the turret blocks and also through the filler plate 35 tobe received in suitablethreaded registering perforations in the tabletopas indicated at 38 (Fig. 6).

From each of the turret blocks 36 rises a chute-like cylindricalmagazine 39, this magazine being open. at both ends to permit a supplyof the lids ID tobe received therein and to drop therethrough, its innerdiameter being justslightly larger than the lids. Elongate sightopenings 40 in the front, faces of the magazines 39 permit visualizationof theprogress of the lids; there-' through and indicate when themagazines are approaching depletion sothat a new supply of lids may beplaced in the magazines through their open tops. Each magazine may befirmly secured in upright position to its respective turret block 36 asby angle bars 41, in this instance three, which have their uprightsscrewed to the magazine wall as at 42 and their horizontals screwed tothe turret block as at 43.

Each turret block is 'tunneled by having its lower face, which rests onthe filler plate 35, cut away upwardly throughout the width of the blockto provide a passageway 44 therethrough of just sufiicient size to passa band ll therethrough. The passageway 44 is flared slightly as at 45 tofacilitate entry of the band into the passageway and is also slightlyenlarged as at 46 to accommodate the larger diameter of the band atit'slower edge, which, however, is temporarily its upperedge as it movesthrough this passage in inverted position (see particularly Figs. 4 and6), to be temporarily stationed under the magazine.

The turret block 36 is also circularly apertured as at 41 which apertureregisters withand is of thesame diameter as the inner diameter of themagazine 36, the aperture 41 thus providing communication between theinterior of the magazine and the passageway 44 through which the bandsll are slid, and thus permitting a lidlfl to be dropped from the supplyin the magazine into one of the inverted bandsias it travels through andis temporarily stationed in the passageway.

To retain the columns of lids in the magazines until they are caused todrop one by one, aslater more particularly described, the lids are heldin each magazine byjyieldingmeans such as the spring detents 48, in thisinstance three in number, whichare spaced apart around the circumferenceof the magazine and which have cylindrical shanks 49 slidable in bores50 radially drilled in the turret ,block36; The bore 50 extends throughthe block fromthe aperture 41 to the outer edge of the, block and alsoreceives a compression coil spring 5| behindthe detent, the (enlarged)outer end of the bore being tapped to th'readedly receive a set screw 52to close the bore, the spring 51 thus urging the detent 48 centrally ofthe aperture 41. To limit; movement of the detent 48 in the b0re 5il,the detent carries a screw stud 53 which plays in a slot 54 in theturret block, and this arrangement alsoprevents rotation of1the detent,the upper outer end of which is beveled as at 55 to carry the lowermostlid in the magazine th'ereon, as best shown inFigsf 4 and 6, just theedge of the lid so resting.

Below the detents 48 -and extending into the passageway 44 just belowthe aperture 41, each turret block 36-carries another set of springfingers 56, in this instance four in number, each spring finger 56 is inthe form of a cylindrical plunger having an enlarged inner end 51 thatplays in a bore 58 in the turret block, the outer end of the bore beingcounter-bored to receive a set screw 59 to retain therein a compressioncoil spring 60 which urges the spring finger 56 inwardly of thepassageway 44. 'The limit of movement of the spring fingers 56 inwardlyissuch thattheir inner ends are substantially tangent with a circledescribed by the aperture 41, so that when a band II is slid underthisaperture 41, the band, being somewhat largerin diameter than theaperture 41, will first retract slightly the two spring fingers 56 whichare nearest the flared entrance 45 of the passageway 44 (which twofingers are here given the further numeral 61) and thus permit the thesefingers 6| will spring inwardly again to '25 :inhibit: retrog'nessivemovenint ;of the bandwhich lhas just passed. {Elie soth'er-tvzosnrihsitto'whichzthezfurther numfilaltfilisgivenl :stops :to iin-hibitcfunther:.-mdv ement, of the lqand spr n fin rsffifi zdirectly beneathstheanc tle with-:itheiperforation I l-b of gth'e han registerzverticallywithsimilar erforation. an e64:in itheufillerzplate 51 573 161 tab,e-.;t;cp;- seem itively. Theiendsmfithe snringfingersi-ififlredesirablyroundeds'soiasittoi be cammedbyzthe -;band

\ iboth in-thermovement.ofcthe 'bandl 1 1205 11 1 4 iz-adijacent oneedge at the conveyorbelt 2G andthe zbandszpare finally stopped intheirmovement on flihtlgCOIiVI-ZYOI'; at a position abreast. of the maga-.zines,-2by:;a stop member of an angle 69 which; .emayabe riveted-.asjat10 to the upright 65 of the ian'gletgfifi. .It will :be understood thatstop memiiberrifiaaovercomes the frictional drag of the belt;on;.the-iibands :and .that those that are thus -:b-rought:=to:astand-stilliby th'e'stop member, 68

isimilarly-bringto astand-still the-bands follow- ;singvwhich are incontact one with the other while iffaI-thl back oni theiconveyor 26those that are anotain: contact are, continuedto be moved forwarditcward the stop r6aiby=theconstantly moving belt. 1

sis bestiseentfrom .Figs, :1 and 3, the magazines 1139 are spacediapartcenter to center a distance 1 equal to thedistance between the centersof alcte'rnateibands on theiconveyor 26, when aprocessioniofitheibandsis brought to a stand-still by uthe-stop 68.:Thusthere is a band positioned dimectlyhbreast of eachvof theturret-passageways 44 and ready to be slid into these passages, one

' beneath each magazine.

ssliding tongue and vgroove connection between,

:ithelgibrand-zpusher. Centrally between each pair wotv gibs '1-4,a.thetablestop I! has an elongate slot 41.6 stherein'in-which plays alugi' 'lriveted as at I8 t0 the-pusher 'II. A link IS-is articulated at noneend-as-at flfl with the-lug 11, which is shown,

' bifurcated-to receive the link, and at its other end as atfiliwithiaslide lever 82 which is'keyed as at '83 to a rock sh'aft' L84carried by the cross 'struts 19 and22 of the stand I3 intermediate ofthe height of the-stand.

-The jack orirock shaft;84 is thus common to all of theslide lever-s82and is oscillated, to operate the-pushers ll; by a crank lever 85 keyedto the jack shaft fi l outside the-stand frame as at 8'6and'articulatedatits lower end as at 81 with a- =-pitman=*88eccentrica'lly articulated asat "89 with the crank 'disc-to of thecamshaft 9I. The cam shaft 9| is the main drive shaft of the apparatus.iaThe shaft Slisdournaledinthe crossstruts 29 l -and 223 and maybedriven by an electric motor; 92

1: izstripififiiscrewedias,1at6'l to the tabl top I? ma b supp riee aethe ba e I4 nhi als forms the base for the stand I3 and vthei ilo't'or myb s nneete asa fi -with s irdilcr in A ar as h n 3 sh l il Kiedblm s apinion s- -z ed t the t i lit tfilfi'o h s eed redu e and ma h n 'ivitlf'fsp i k pinn dito the d iv shaf s l- H I 'TRheKcams afti's-Il l may-bar ange t rqtat a considerable speed, say 125 revolut ute, thus heslidP115 1 3 ;.L .7 toward the magazines as the same numbcrrbf times.perminute. sincethere areithreeofrthes slide pushers in thisinstance,Bilfihandspr.minute will be positioned beneath the magazines.

In Figs. ;1 and JZJbhflDllShBI'SJH are shown in retracted positions inthe cycleofoperation and, at this .point in the v.cycle, the procession'32. of bands HI I is continuous on the belt -26 -overlthe table top H.=When however in they next ;-half cycle of revolution of the crankdiscifiikthe slide pushers are moved -toward the .r magazines (slots Q58in the uprightfiaibf the strip 65. admitting the noses of the slidepushers therethrough) theband II between each magazine andits-reg-ister-inglslide pusher will be slidingly pushed 01f the conveyorbelt=26 onto the surface r the filler platelet within the passageway lflin the turret block- 36, as show-n in Figl' 4. The slide pusher is ofsuch length-"that at the extreme imit'nrits' stroke in directign- -thepusher will cease to 'lcush the ba nd when the 'ba d is positionedbetween the s1ori r 1 flrlgers tlfi; and the 'p nsherwill then; diir'ingthe negithalf cycle ofirevolution of the crank iiisc ail, return to its,retracted hosit'ion, wlier" iiiiczfthe conveyor-belt 2 6 will agaln fillu'p Witfla'bhtihuvins izms s ien 9f th sem s ih hdsf interi media em s114 pa fhe yb h i'fi in move up is ,fi ltfiesm tv assess-the b nd whicwsre e yshd ,Durine the ha f c cl I bf, retation .of t e ra d sc 9,6when th il islv erf wl i ar I i -c fcl and rfih senve e new th table fgl, "n 'i'n nn w t bandag hethl ee' ands mated ma rlaaeaz ne fifi a inosltl qliitoiiave'flidsj piled therein respectiv nd thifs isaccomplished in accorda c w t t e presen .ihv n b fbyfautonat c meansnext more part icnlarly describedand w h .ccm ri es a make and .br eakiicjtidn device also desirably operated byvthetcam. shafts I .A thereshown th am sh ft L9 I mastery: at itschd. opposite the crank disci ilfl another rank disc as pinned thereto outside 'theld iibsi fend of thestand frarnemEccelntrically art ula ted i h t .c nk disc as at gm'n gisanetherpitman 5 t which is articulated at {till Qw'i'th 'alcfiank leterl tz. fthe ,latter, ist keyed as t 1 0.3 gte' another L vj ack or rockshaft 19.4, also jonrnaled inthe'cross struts I9-: ;a n d;2 2.-of thestand frame] T rock A I common to a plurality-Ml ter arms eJ55, th astance three; "Eachdifteii arm-tins is keyed to the r-col; shaft 3 I M;as, atlfI (I56 and is loosely connected with a stem Hi of a. vacuum cr pI57. Each stem-Jim is vert i callyl ciprocal in a 1 air of; verticallyspaced anflbeami'gs I 08 and 3 I 03 -carrie irespectively by thest andgframe and ithas limited vertical mcvementtherein.

Ihe bearings I88 are here shown;carrie djiby a -comrnon bearing; blockFI IlBa rive 'ted to ,and supp ported by a pair vof bracketsIIISUWhiIchQare in v aturn riveted v to as; at IllBc and supported by;the ,cross struts I18 and 2 I respectivelyrof the stand amen $imil r1them -ai in s M9 at? c" ied. by common earinebl c gm s mila yrivet t '15vamt.slimme ;hsnaaia wf braske ail ibi ite to and supported I26 toreceive a pipe-fitting I21 by the cross struts I9 and: 22 respectively.V r i V Each vacuum cup I01 may comprise a nipple IIO threadedly securedto the upper end ofthe stem I06 and having a passage therein to registerwith the interior of the stem and also with a center perforation in arubber-like diaphragm II I which is clamped to the spherically concaveupper face of the nipple IIO by a clamping screw H2 perforated as atI I3and arranged to conform the diaphragm to this cup shape. A suction cupis thus provided communicating with a, valving system next described.

Adjacent its lower end and below the bearin I09 the stem I06 has pinnedthereto a double flanged yoke collet H4 and the lifter arm I05 is forkedat its end I I5 to interengage with the yoke collet II4 so as toalternately lift and depress the Vacuum stem I06 as the rock shaft I04is oscil- .lated by the drive shaft 9 I. Below the yoke colvlet II4 eachstem I06 has connected thereto as at -I I6 a flexible hose I I1 which atits other end I III is connected with a pipe header I I9 supported by:and communicating with a stationary air valving Lmember I20, which hasa tapped aperture I2I therein threadedly receiving the pipe H0. Thethreaded aperture I2I is in communication as by the bore I22 with a portI23 in the face I20a of the stationary valving member I20, the latterbeing bolted as at I24 to a cylindrical bracket I25 suitably secured tothe cross strut .23 of the stand frame, the cam shaft 9| passingrotatively through the stationary valving member I20 and the cylindricalbracket I25. The stationary valving member I20 is also threadedlyapertured as at for a pipe I28 which may be connectedto any suitablevacuum pump which need not be here more specifically described. Theaperture I26 communicates as by a bore I29 with another port I30 in theface I20a of the stationary valving member I20, circumferentially spacedtherein from the port I23. 7 For face' to face rotative close fittingabutment with the stationary valving member I20 is another rotaryvalving member I3I which is keyed as at I32 to the cam shaft 0 I. Therotary valving member I3I carries, in its face I3Ia which revolvablyabuts the face I20a of the stationary valving member, an arcuately andcircumferentially elongated manifold portion I33 the interior I34 ofwhich is adapted to place in communication the ports I23 and I30 so asto create a suction within the stems I06.

Closeface to face contact of the relatively :rotary,valving member I3Iwith the stationary valving member I20, may be effected by a relaytivelyheavy compression coil spring I38 encir- (cling the cam shaft 9| andpressing at one end against the rotary valving member I3I and at itsother end against a collar I39 on the cam shaft 9i, the location ofwhich on the shaft is adjustable, as by a set screw I40, to vary theload of the spring I38.

As shown by the drawings, the system of cranks and levers hereillustrated and just described is arranged so that during the half cycleof rotation of the crank discs 30 and 99 when the pushers H areretracted, the vacuum cups I01 are elevated to pass upwardly throughregistering perforations 64 and 63 in the table top I1 and filler plate35 respectively, then upwardly through the center opening III) in theband II and into contact with the lowermost lid I0 in the maga- Qzine39.

J34 of the rotary valve member I3I places the Since at this time alsothe manifold peas ziafid lat communication, air sexhausted fromthevacuum cups and a suction is created which causes the lowermost lid'inthe magazine to be adhered to the suction cup I01. Asthe cyclenowprogresses the vacuum cups begin their downward stroke and drawwiththe lowermost lid in each magazine from the stack of lids therein, thissuction being sufficientto overcome the load of the springs 50 andltocause the spring detents 48 to becammed outwardly of the aperture 41 inthe turret blocks so as to "release thelowermost lid from each stack.The beveled surface 55 of the spring detent facilitates such cammingaction. Thereupon immediately the lowermost lid has been 'drawn from thestack, the spring detents 48 snap inwardly of the aperture 41 andsupport the stack of lids with "the next lowermost lid resting thereon.

V A single lid is thus dropped into the single band which is temporarilystationed thereunder in the'passageway 44 waiting'to receive it,'and, asthe cycle continues, the rotary valving member rotating in the directionof the arrow I35 (Fig. '1), the interior of the manifold I33 places theport I23 in communication with another port I36'in the'stationaryvalving member I20 spaced arcuately of the ports I23 and I30. 'The portI36 communicates with a bore I31 in the stationary valving member I20which is open to the atmosphere and thus the suction in the header I I9and consequently in each of the vacuumrcups I01 is broken and air isadmitted into the interiors of the cups which releases the lids from thecups. The three lids so dropped therefore remain in the three bandsstationed. thereunder While the vacuum cups'continue downwardly, withthe stems 36 respectively under the influence of the cam disc 99 and itsassociated lever system. The ports are desirably arranged so that thevacuum is broken well before the lid contacts the band-sothat at the'latter time the lid is free of the suction cup'jand' completes its dropundertheinfiuence of gravity.

Repeating the cycle, the, pushers 1I now move inwardly again and push'another'band-II into each of the stations of thethree passageways 44,the incoming bands pushing ahead of them the bands already in thepassageways, into which a lid has been droppedyout through the rear endof the passageway 44 and onto the discharge conveyor belt 21, the tworearmost spring fingers, 56, which are here given the furtherdesignating numeral 62, yielding for this purpose. As this pair 1 of'two rearward spring fingers 62 of the spring fingers BS'spring inwardlyagain upon the passage of thepushed band and lid therebeyond, the

return force of thespringifingers kicks the band and lid and gives itemadded push in :the discharge direction which carries it well onto thedischarge conveyor belt 21. To preventthe discharge assembled bands andlids from being kicked beyond the conveyor belt 21, the latter may bemargined along its rear edge by the upright I42 of ast'op strip I43which mas be sethe? word. ring. to-includeany article having an openingtherethrough, whether circular or non.- circular through Which-anassembly element. may. be passed;'the Word disc to include any articletobedepositedtherein, whether circular or noncircular, andwhich canbestackedfor such purpose.

It is moreover to be understood that the invention is not intendedtobelimited. to details ofstructure and operation which are intended. tobe exemplary, and, furthermore thatv it: may not: be invariablyessential that all features of the' disclosure be used conjointly, sincevarious combinations or sub-combinations of. the structures disclosedmay at times be: advantageously employed; 7

What is here claimed is:

1. In ring and disc assembly apparatus, the combination with ring; anddisc feeding: mechanisms wherein thering feedingv mechanism is mountedina horizontal plane and the disc feeding. mechanism is mounted in avertical plane; and a ring is positioned beneath and aligned with asupply of vertically disposed discs and wherein a vacuum cup is elevatedthrough the ring to engage-the lowermost disc: insaid supply and causeit to drop intosaid ring.

2. In ring band and disc lid assembly apparatus, the combination of astand providing a supporting. frame and. a table top, a plurality ofmagazines fordisclids mounted above the table top; a feed conveyortraveling over the table top for bringing ring bands to positionsadjacent the magazines, a plurality of pushers for pushingsimultaneously a plurality of bands fromthe feed. conveyor to stationsrespectively beneath the magazines, a plurality of'vacuum cups carriedby the frame and adapted to reciprocate upwardly vertically thereinbeneath said. stations andv through the bands to engage a lowermost lidand then downwardly vertically to draw the lid to the, band, a system oflevers-carried by the. frame for simultaneously reciprocating thepushers horizontally, another system of levers carried: by the. framefor simultaneously reciprocating the vacuum cups vertically, means formaking a vacuum in the cups in the vicinity of. the .upward limit oftheir movement, means for breaking said vacuum in the vicinity of thelower limit of said movement, and means for actuating. said. levers andvacuum means.

3. In ring and disc assembly apparatus, the combinationwith astandprovi'ding a supporting frame, a plurality of 'pushers carried bythe frame, a plurality of vacuum cups carried by the frame, and apl'urality'of systems of levers'carried by the frame for reciprocatingthe pushers and vacuum cups respectively, comprising, common cam shaftjournaled in the frame, a pair of: crank discs pinned to said cam shaft,a pitman eccentrically articulated with each crank disc and. connectedfor actuating. of each of said systems of levers respectively, astationary valving. member encircling the cam shaft, a rotary valvingmember pinned to the cam shaft in face to face abutment with thestationary valving member, a system of ports in said valving members:jointly for intermittently connecting said vacuum cups with a' source.of vacuum and for discontinuing said connection, and means for drivingsaid cam shaft. i

4. In ringv and disc assembly apparatus, the combination witha tabletop, ofa 'magazine for disc lids mounted. above the table top, a'feedconveyor traveling over the table tonfor bring- 16 ing. ring bands toaposition adjacent the maga.-. zine; a pusher for pushing,- a bandfromthe feed conveyor to, a stationbeneath tharmagazine, and a vacuum cuparranged to reciprocatevertically beneathth'emagazine wherein-themagazine rests table top is also apertured in: such register to permitthe vacuum. cunto pass-vertically upward through saidapertures and: handinto contact with the lid.

5.. In ring band and-disc: lid assembly apparatus, the combination of asupport, a magazine for disc lids mounted above the support; a feedconveyor traveling over the support for bringmg ring bands to positions:adjacent the magazine, apusher for pushing bands from the feed conveyorto a station beneath. the magazine, a vacuum cup carried by the frameand adapted to-reciprocate upwardly vertically therein beneath saidstation and through the band to engage a lowermost lid and then.downwardly vertically to draw thelid to the band, means carried by theframe for reciprocating the pusher horizontally, meanscarriedbythe-frame for reciprocat ing the vacuum cup vertically, meansfor making a vacuum in the. cup in the vicinity of the upward-limit ofits'movement, means for breaking said, vacuum; inv the vicinity of thelowerlimit of said movement, andmea-ns for actuating said 351 means.

6; Inv ring band and disc lid assembly appara tus, the, combination ofastand providing a supporting frame and a table top; a pluralityofmagazines for disc lids mounted above the table top, a feed conveyortraveling. over the table top for bringing ring bands-to positionsadjacent themagazines, a plurality of pushers for pushing simultaneouslya plurality of bands from the feed conveyor to stations respectivelybeneath the magazines, a plurality of vacuum cups carried:

by the frame and adapted to reciprocate upwardly vertically thereinbeneath said stations and through the. bands to engage a lowermost lidand then. downwardly verticallyto draw the lidto theband, a system ofleversv carried by the frame for simultaneously reciprocating thepushers horizontally, another system of levers, carried'by the frame forsimultaneously reciprocating the vacuum cups vertically, valvingv meansfor placing the cups in communication with ,a source. of.

vacuum in the vicinity of the upward limit of their movement, valvingmeans for breaking. said at rightv angles to theconveyor on one sidethere.

of adjacent said stop, a sliding connection 'for the Pusher on the tabletop, a, chute-like vertical magazine mounted on the table on the otherside of said conveyor adjacent said stop to carry discs therein subjectto the influence of gravity, a passageway beneath said. magazine, afiller plate in said passageway having a surface flush with the uppersurface of said conveyor belt, a discharge conveyor belt adapted to.move over the table top beyondsaid magazine having its upper surfaceflush "with the feed conveyor and filler plate, means for causinglsaidpusher to transfer a ring from the feed conveyor to a temporary stationbeneath the magazine, means operating vertically through said ring forcausing one of said discs to bedeposited in said ring so temporarilystatioiied, and means actuated in part by a next succeeding ring fortransferring the ring in which a dischas been deposited from saidstation to said discharge conveyor. v

8. In disc assembly apparatus, the combination with a vertical magazinefor a stack of discs, and vacuum cup means for withdrawing successivelythe lowermost disc from the magazine, wherein spring detents retain thediscs yieldingly in the magazine and resiliently yield when a lowermostdisc is withdrawn from the stack.

9. In disc assembly apparatus the combination with a vertical magazinefor a stack of discs, and vacuum cup means for withdrawing successivelythe lowermost disc from themagazine, wherein the magazine has a sightopening in its front face to permit visualization of the progress of thediscs therethrough and an indication of when the supply thereof becomesdepleted.

10. In ring and disc assembly apparatus the combination of a table top,a feed conveyor belt adapted to move thereover toicarr ring bandsthereon, a stop member over the conveyor, a plurality of slide pushersat right angles to the conveyor on ne side thereof adjacent said stop,sliding connections for the pushers on the table top, a plurality ofchute-like vertical magazines mounted on the table on the other side ofsaid conveyor adjacent said stop to carry discs therein subject to theinfluence of gravity, a passageway beneath each said magazine, a fillerplate in each said passageway having a surface flush with the uppersurface of said conveyor belt, a discharge conveyor belt adapted to moveover the table top beyond said magazine flush with the feed conveyor andfiller p1ate,fmeans for causing said pushers simultaneously to transferrespectively a band from the feed conveyor to a temporary stationbeneath the magazine respectively, means operating yertically througheach of said bands simultaneously for causing one of said discs to bedeposited in each said bands so temporarily statloned, and meansactuated in part by a next succeeding bands pushed through fortransferring the band in which discs have been deposited from saidstations to'said discharge conveyor.

11...In ring and disc assembly apparatus, the combination with a stand,of ring feeding mechanism, disc feeding mechanism, a, plurality ofpushers, for simultaneously positioning a plurality of rings withrespect to said disc feeding mechanism, a slide lever for each pusher, acommon rock shaft for said levers, a plurality of vacuum cups mountedfor simultaneously reciprocation through said positioned ringsrespectively for drawing a disc to each ring, a lifter arm for eachvacuum cup, a common rock shaft for. said lifter arms, a crank leverforeach said rock shaft, a pitman for each crank lever, and a common camshaft for actuating said pitmans.

12. In ring and disc assembly apparatus, the combination with a stand,of ringfeeding mechanism, disc feeding mechanism, a plurality of pushersfor simultaneously positioninga plurality of rings with respect to saiddisc feeding mechanism, a slide lever for each pusher, a common rockshaft for said levers, a plurality of vacuum cups mounted for.simultaneous reciprocation through said positioned rings respectivelyfor drawing a disc to each ring, a lifter arm for each vacuum cup, acommon rock shaft for said lifter V arms, a crank lever for each saidrock shaft, a

pitman for each crank lever, a hose connection to each vacuum cup,valving means common to the said hose connection for alternatelyexhausting air from and admitting into said cups, a common cam shaft foractuating said pitmans and said valving means, and means for rotatingthe cam shaft.

13. In ring and discassembl-y apparatus, the combination of ring feedingmeans, disc feeding means, a vertically reciprocal vacuum cupcooperating with said disc feeding means, a hollow stem for the cup, ayoke collet on said stem, a lifter arm engaging the yoke collet, a cranklever engaging the lifter arm, a pitman engaging the crank lever, acrank disc eccentrically articulated with the pitman, a driving shaftfor the crank disc, a hose pipe connected to the stem, a stationaryvalving member encircling said drive shaft, a rotary valving memberkeyed to the drive shaft in running face to face abutment with thestationary member, a port in the stationary member communicating withthe hose pipe, another port therein communicating with an exhaust pump,and a third port therein open to the atmosphere, said ports opening intothe face of the stationary valving member abutting the mating face ofthe rotary valving member, a manifold in the mating face of the rotaryvalving member adapted to place the ports of the stationary valvingmember in communication at successive intervals of rotation for makingand breaking a vacuum in said cup, and a spring pressing the saidvalving members together, and means for operating said ring feedingmeans in cooperation with said disc feeding means.

14. In disc assembly apparatus, the combination of disc feeding means, avertically reciprocal vacuum cup cooperating with said disc feedingmeans, a hollow stem for the cup, a yoke collet on said stem, a lifterarm engaging the yoke collet, a crank lever engaging the lifter arm, apitman engaging the crank lever, a crank disc eccentrically articulatedwith the pitman, a driving shaft for the crank disc, a hose pipeconnected to the stem, a stationary valving member encircling said driveshaft, a rotary valving member keyed to the drive shaft in running faceto face abutment with the stationary member, a port in the stationarymember communicating with the hose pipe, another port'thereincommunicating with an exhaust pump, and a third port therein open to theatmosphere, said ports opening into the face of the stationary valvingmember abutting the mating face of the rotary valving member, a manifoldin the mating face of the rotary valving member adapted to place theports of the stationary valving member in communication at successiveintervals of rotation for making and breaking a vacuum in said cup, aspring pressing the said valving members together, and power means forrotating said driving shaft.

15. In-disc assembly apparatus, the combination of a table, a discfeeding magazine for holding a supply of superimposed discs for movementby gravity downwardly toward the table, a vacuum cup movable up and downthrough an aperture in the table below said magazine to contact thelowermost disc and draw it off said magazine, said vacuum cup beingretractable downwardly through the aperture With the disc thereon tolower the disc onto the table, means for breaking the vacuum to permitthe vacuum cup to move further downwardly through said aperture leavingthe disc on the table, and a slide member for pushing the disc fromunder the magazine.

JOSEPH R. FLEISCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Grisman Dec, 11, 1928 Number Number 10Number

